UPDATE: The Grayson County-Galax quad scheduled for tonight (Feb. 1) will be played, although the starting time for the first game has been moved up one hour to 3:30.

BLUEFIELD –– Grayson County boys’ basketball coach Lucas Austin couldn’t recall the last time – if ever – that his team played 32 minutes of zone defense. A necessity more so than a strategy due to the absence of two starters, the Blue Devils’ static defensive set made a strong case for future employment on Wednesday.

A phone scam related to the new Virginia tax refund debit card has been reported by the Virginia Department of Taxation.
The department has received reports of phone calls being made to individuals, telling them that their “Way2Go” prepaid MasterCard is “locked for security reasons.”
The automated caller then tries to get the listener to divulge personal information.
This is a phone scam. The department said it never makes automated calls and never solicits personal information in this manner.

HILLSVILLE — Carroll County will consider trying to nip the stray animal population in the bud through the 2014 budget, supervisors discussed at their meeting Jan. 14.
Providing funds for a spay and neuter program could help save the locality money later, from the animal control officer not having to take so many animals to the shelter, Supervisor Bob Martin explained after the meeting.
Right now, Carroll spends a lot of money on animal control response, but little on prevention, he noted.

RICHMOND — A proposed state constitutional amendment that would guarantee the right to pray in public schools and government meetings cleared a Virginia Senate committee on Jan. 29, beginning a vigorous debate about the intent and reach of the legislation.
The amendment resolution is co-sponsored by two senators representing part of the Twin Counties, Bill Carrico (R-Grayson County) and Bill Stanley (R-Franklin County.)

HILLSVILLE — A wind energy workshop on Monday gave citizens an opportunity to vent about Carroll’s proposal to ban tall structures on ridge tops, a response by county officials to the possibility of a wind turbine farm being developed on Stoots Mountain.
An idea by EDP Renewables to study a wind farm caused the neighbors and other citizens some concerns, which were shared at several meetings with the Carroll Board of Supervisors.
The wind farm could have as many as 24 turbines that reach nearly 500 feet tall.

Committee tables school officers bill
A bill to change school procedures on building security was effectively sent to detention by the Senate Finance Committee this week.
Legislation calling for local school boards to work with local law enforcement agencies so school resource officers are assigned in public schools across Virginia was sent to a state school safety task force for evaluation.

By SHAINA STOCKTON
Staff
Nearing the end of the UCT Gives Back contest, Galax Elementary School’s Cooperative Care Center for Exceptional Children (CCEC) has received an outpouring of support and votes, bringing the program closer each day to a $10,000 prize.
The contest first came to the school’s attention when GES Assistant Principal Sonia Truitt heard about it from her parents. Her father, Bob Taylor, is an active member of the local United Commercial Travelers (UCT) council.

RICHMOND – Who should qualify to play school sports was at the center of several committee meetings last week in the Virginia General Assembly.
Home-schooled students made their pitch for eligibility to play sports for their local schools, a request under consideration in both houses under so-called “Tim Tebow” legislation. The bills are nicknamed for the NFL quarterback who was allowed to participate in public school athletics as a Florida home schooler.